Saluting those who serve

Put your wallets away, veterans. This one’s on us.

Whether it’s free admission to Los Angeles County parks and botanic gardens, a complimentary burger or an on-the-house spa treatment, the county is saying thank you to active duty and retired U.S. service members in a big way this Veterans Day.

And it’s not all freebies and discounts.

Tributes and ceremonies will dot the Los Angeles County landscape from Alhambra and Baldwin Park to Redondo Beach, Santa Clarita and West Hollywood on Wednesday, November 11. The San Fernando Valley Veterans Day Parade kicks off in Pacoima at 11:11 a.m.

Some events take place before Veterans Day and some discounts and free offers are in effect all week or throughout the month of November. Check this list for the full lineup of 2015 activities.

Serving those who have served their country is a commitment that goes beyond a single holiday on the calendar, of course. All year long, the county Department of Military and Veterans Affairs offers an array of resources to help veterans and their families obtain benefits and connect with services.

Since it reopened in 2013 after extensive renovations, Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in downtown Los Angeles has served as a one-stop center where veterans can get assistance not just from Military and Veterans Affairs, but also from county departments including Mental Health, Human Resources and Public Social Services. There’s free legal help available from the County Bar Association, Law Library and Superior Court. Job placement and training is offered through U.S. Vets. Employment assistance also comes from the Native American Veterans Association, while Military Women in Need offers grants to support women veterans at risk of becoming homeless. And every month, the American Legion and VFW hold post meetings in the historic building.

“For us, Veterans’ Day doesn’t come one day of the year,” said Stephanie Stone, chief deputy director of Military and Veterans Affairs, “just as ‘serving those who’ve served’ isn’t just a tag line for us. We are dedicated to ensuring that our veterans and their families receive the benefits and services they need, they deserve, and most importantly that they have earned.”